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FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS &
THINGS WE’D LIKE YOU TO KNOW ABOUT WINTER FERRY
TRAVEL
1. Will there be more than one trip
per day this winter?
We make two trips per day each day, except for Wednesdays
when there is just a morning trip scheduled.
Click here for current schedule
and rates.
2. Will you haul semis and other large trucks or trailers
this winter?
The winter ferry Arni J. Richter is capable of carrying
semis and large trucks and trailers, so we are open
to carrying large vehicles for the first time ever.
However, our truck rate schedule for winter is higher
to reflect the difficulty of winter service and all
that goes with it. You may want to consider price
differences and plan accordingly to utilize months
when lower rates are in effect.
Reservations for trucks and trailers are required
due to limited deck space.
3.
Does that mean we should also make auto reservations
in winter?
Winter reservations also need to be made for autos,
as well as snowmobiles and 4-wheelers.
Also, if there are large passenger groups (school
children, sports teams, for instance) we would like
to know how many are in the group and what their arrival
and departure plans are.
4. How soon do I need to be in line with my car
in winter?
Loading will begin twenty minutes before departure.
With ten minutes to go to departure time, empty spaces
will be filled with other vehicles. Please be on time
to help us in the loading process.
5. Can we sit in our car?
We prefer you sit in the cabin. But, if you do stay
in your car, DO NOT run your car engine. Also there
is NO SMOKING on board. These are Coast Guard safety
rules.
If you have special mobility needs, and can’t
leave your car, we should also know that in case of
emergency. If you are ill or are otherwise unable
to leave your vehicle, please let the crew know as
you board.
6. Why is there NO SMOKING on board?
Smoking adds to the potential for fires, whether in
the cabin or in your car. A fire on board, underway,
would be a very dangerous situation. Great effort
and expense have been made to minimize fire hazards
on board our ferries. Smoking on board reduces that
margin of safety. Please extinguish smoking materials
prior to boarding the ferry. By not smoking you also
respect the rights of non-smoking passengers.
7. What about alcoholic beverages?
We have a NO OPEN INTOXICANTS policy. Safe driving
laws and public open intoxicant laws prohibit open
alcoholic beverages in vehicles and in public places.
8. Where can I put my gear if I don’t bring
my car on the ferry?
We have a weatherproof baggage cart on which customers
can place suitcases and bags. This cart will then
be rolled on board for the trip, and off again after
the ferry lands. This should provide protection for
your gear out of the weather and away from traffic.
Because cabin seating is often at a premium, we ask
that knapsacks, suitcases and duffels be stowed in
the luggage cart, rather than taking them with you
into the cabins.
9. Patience when waiting to board or go ashore,
please…..
* A request for passengers waiting to board: wait
until the ferry is completely unloaded and the crew
is ready to allow you on board before rushing to load
gear.
* A request for passengers anxious to go ashore when
the ferry lands: keep clear of vehicles on the vehicle
deck – do not walk between cars when the ferry
is approaching the pier or bucking ice. Keep clear
of ramps and gangways until the crew has cleared the
area and has given the OK sign to go ashore.
10. Can I bring my pet on board?
Please keep pets either inside your vehicle, if that’s
not an option, on a leash on the Main Deck –
but not in the cabins or on the upper decks. Please
consider how cold weather and steel decks might impact
your pets before transporting them in winter.
11. If I bring a snowmobile, do I need a reservation?
YES What about other
gear?
We’ll carry snowmobiles and 4x4’s as before,
both on deck and on trailers. We want to protect the
deck from carbide cleats, and ask for your help in
loading snowmobiles. Ice fishing gear, personal freight,
and hand-carried equipment will be stowed out of the
way in a deck area designated by the crew.
12.
What is ‘personal freight’?
We consider two bags per person, more or less, to
be ‘personal freight’.
13.
How do I know if the ferry is running any given winter
day?
With few exceptions, we make our daily ferry crossings
without problem in approximately 45 minutes each way.
The ferry trip will always be longer in winter due
to ice and more difficulty in loading or unloading.
Dress appropriately, and bring along a book or games
and some snacks.
If you call us during regular office hours, we should
be able to tell you how well the trip is going and
what conditions might be expected in the next day
or so. However, winter conditions can change quickly.
When you make reservations (especially if you are
coming from off-island) it’s a good idea, to
give us your phone number in case we need to reach
you. If you wish to cancel, be sure to let us know
as soon as you can. We don’t impose penalties
for cancellations or "no-shows", but call
us if you have changed your plans.
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